Putting Lessons at The Jonathan Yarwood Golf Academy

Over the next 6 weeks we will be conducting putting lesson using the exciting SAM Putting system.

SAM PuttLab is “the ultimate putting training system”. Using state of the art Ultrasound it is able to give you incredibly accurate measurements which can help greatly with both training and analysis. By tracking 28 of the most important factors in your putting stroke such as rotation, acceleration, impact and swing duration, it is able to give you feedback on the smallest detail of your stroke within seconds; and all in an easy to understand graphical report.

In using Ultrasound technology and certain mathematic algorithms SAM Puttlab is far more accurate than other systems on the market. And would highlight key areas on how to improve your game such as sweetspots or club face angle, to allow for a more effective training session.

The lesson will also include a video of the current putting action and of the changes that are made. You will also receive an email of your lesson with a before and after of your stroke.

This is normally priced at £99 per hour, this will be available to the first 10 people at the special rate of £75. Please contact Matt Woods on mw@golfjy.com for a booking or more details.

Golf Lesson 4: Putting

I love being on the driving range. Not only is it good practice but it is also quite relaxing to just go out there and whack 60 balls as far as I can. Sadly, this week’s lesson was going to be spent on the green instead of on the range. I was a little disappointed at first but Matt explained that a large proportion of your shots are taken on the green so you should spend an equal proportion of your practice time putting. That’s logic you can’t argue with and besides it was probably time for me to learn how to putt so that I can actually play a full hole.

We went to the practice green and Matt showed me how to get a feel for the distant and slope of the green by getting me to roll a few balls towards the hole. This routine helped me figure out the amount of power needed to get the ball where I wanted it to go. We did this from different angles so I could see the impact of having to putt on different gradients and how this affects the amount of power needed. It was a very simple exercise but it was really useful.

Then we got onto the putting itself. Just as when I learnt how to tee off, I found there was more to it than meets the eye. Putting is more of a pendulum motion which means your distance from the ball is very important. Too far or too close to the ball and you’ll send it the wrong way. Once your distance is set, draw your elbows into your rib cage so your arms and your torso are connected allowing for that smooth pendulum motion. All you have to do now is remember how much power is required to make the distance, and then just take a nice smooth stroke. Simple, right? Let’s just say practice makes perfect.

If you would like to use any of the practice facilities or would like to book some individual or group golf lessons, call 01653 581 000.

Golfing for Beginners, Lesson 3, Practice Makes Perfect

Things were starting to take shape, my grip was alright, my posture was strong and my swing was getting there. The only problem was that my head kept getting in the way. From the start of the lesson Matt could clearly see that I was over thinking every shot. Before I even hit the ball I would go through a mental check list on every shot. Are my hands high enough; am I gripping the club too hard; are my arms straight enough; are my arms too straight?! The longer I focused on all of these different elements the tenser I became and this really had an impact on my swing.

Matt decided we needed to do some practice drills so that my shot become more instinctive and natural – just like riding a bike. He teed-up three balls in a row and I would set up in front of the first ball. When Matt said go I would hit all three balls, one after another without pausing to think. This actually worked as I didn’t have the time to stiffen up between shots. We did this a few time until my shots become more relaxed.

Now the balls were beginning to fly – unfortunately instead of going straight they were flying off to right. To get over this Matt had me hit a few shots with my feet together letting my hands rotate as the swing followed through. It actually worked and once my shots were heading in the right direction I went back to placing my feet in the normal stance.

The next thing I have to work on is distance, but I’m sure I will have plenty of time to practice. If you are interested in golf lessons contact Matt Woods by emailing matt.woods@donnington-grove.com or call 01635 581000.

Golfing for Beginners, Lesson 2 Back Swing & Posture

After all the fun of my first lesson I could not wait to get back out on to the range. However when I turned up to the lesson Matt informed me that due to the weather we would be spending this week’s lesson in the practice room. I was a bit disappointed but in fairness to Matt, it is pretty difficult to play golf when you can’t feel your hands and arms. Plus, this was an excellent opportunity to video my swing and focus on perfecting my technique.

This lesson was all about getting my back swing in shape cause if there is one thing Matt has taught me it is that if something is wrong with the back swing then there is going to be something wrong when you follow through.

I started by taking a few practice swings to see what I had remembered from last lesson. My grip was fine but my posture could have been better. Matt was quick to remind me to keep my back straight and to not let my shoulders slouch forward. The correct way to stand is with your legs shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, bum slightly sticking out, back straight and shoulders back.

The next problem was a very obvious and very big one. Instead of hinging my wrists I was bending my arms and bringing them too far behind my back. This meant that when I brought the club back down to complete the shot I wasn’t striking it at the right angle or worse I missed the ball all together. Matt told me that my arms must stay straight during the back swing and shouldn’t go up past my chest. The most important thing is to make sure to hinge the wrists to create an L shape and then be sure to follow through.

Below is the swing analysis video from my lesson. There was definitely a huge improvement from the beginning of the lesson. Got any tips or questions? Then leave a comment on the blog!

If you would like a one on one or group golf lesson contact Donnington Grove’s resident instructor Matt Woods on 01635 581000 or send a request at our Golf Academy page.

Tuition Golf Breaks at Donnington Grove

The Jonathan Yarwood Golf Academy will be holding a series of 1 night, 2 day tuition golf breaks at the stunning Donnington Grove Golf and Country Club. The package is open to groups of up to 4 people and will be running throughout January, February, March and April. The break will include dinner, bed and breakfast, unlimited golf and up to 4 hours tuition each day depending on numbers. The main focus will be to improve your short game, including putting, chipping, lob shots and bunker play. The swing and long game can be covered if requested.

The Jonathan Yarwood Golf Academy has some of the countries best facilities which includes an indoor studio, so not even the British weather can spoil your stay.

For more information about this exclusive offer please contact Matt Woods at mw@golfjy.com or call 01635 581000

Top Golf Tips (4)

Golf Tip 4: How to escape the sands of time

There is nothing worse than when you are playing a smooth round of golf and then all of a sudden you find yourself stuck in the sand! Countless times have I been on a winning streak and then held back by one bad turn in the pit. This tip is to help with that situation by playing the sand instead of the ball. Ironically the best way to get out of the sand is by ignoring the ball.

When you’re in a greenside bunker the club should never touch the ball. You want your wedge to toss the sand beneath and behind the ball onto the green. The ball will float out on a wave of sand right onto the green.

You must convince yourself that the ball is an afterthought on these shots. To practice this, stand in the flat of a practice bunker and place two tees opposite your left instep.

YOU DO NOT NEED A BALL! Hinge your wrists quickly on the backswing to create an upright path, then swing down and let your sand wedge hit about two inches behind the tees. Make a full follow-through, finishing with your hands at shoulder height. You’ll see that the tess have flown up and toward the hole along with the sand you sprayed. Repeat this several times and see how high and far you can make the tees fly! Then drop a ball down and repeat the swing. Hopefully this drill will make escaping the bunkers an easy stress free shot.

Next tip is how to use pool cues to improve your Driving!

Top Golf Tips (1)

1.    Brush Your Chip Shots To Hit Them Close To The Pin

Many people have difficulty hitting crisp shots that stop close enough for realistic one-putts! Hopefully this tip and technique can help you. Hitting the ball puts too much grass between it and the clubface however picking it cleanly produces a lower trajectory off the bottom edge of your wedge with little or no backspin.

This is called the ‘brush the grass’ drill and is something you should practice next time you get the chance. Before you hit your first shot, make at least 20 pitch swings without a ball and look at your divot after every one. Make sure your wedge hits the ground on each attempt but doesn’t dig into it. Think about ‘brushing’ the grass and you should be able to feel the club gently bump the bottom of the ground. Your divot should look like the grass has been brushed flat but no dirt has left the ground.  When you have perfected this drill you should be able to see a crisp ball contact on or about, the third or fourth groove up the face of your wedge, a nice amount of backspin and makeable putts!

When you put this into practise on the course think about the image of the brushed grass. Make sure your grip is light and relaxed. If you are having problems with the leading edge of your wedge making dirt divots, open the face a little more. When you’ve successfully ‘brushed’ the grass two consecutive times without a divot, move in and immediately pitch the ball onto the green with the same swing.

Tomorrows tip includes the best way to use your irons!

Donnington Grove – 3 for 2 Golf Lessons

All lessons until the end of March 2010 are 3 for the price of 2 All Lessons must be used by the end of March The JYGA offers a wide range of tuition services from a 1 hour individual lesson to running a corporate golf day.  Our facilities are arguably some of the best in the country with the range fully supported by Titleist, and an indoor facility that even the British weather can’t spoil.  Every lesson includes computer and video analysis and you will receive a take home DVD with a “before and after” of your lesson.
Pease contact Matt at the Jonathan Yarwood Golf Academy on 01635 581000, or email mw@golfjy.com, to book an appointment.

Junior Golf Coaching Offer developed by Jonathan Yarwood

Let’s Play!

Our 8 week Junior Coaching courses are totally unique – developed by Jonathan Yarwood, one of the most successful British Golf Coaches ever, it balances the basics of golf with fun games and challenges to enhance skill development.

Each week will cover a different element of the game and will use a multitude of exercises to improve technique, coordination, motor skills and instinct.

Throughout the 8 weeks each child will have different aspects of the game videoed, computer analysed, and comparisons made to some of the worlds best players. This will be burnt to a take home DVD.

Donnington Grove Golf and Country Club is the ideal setting to learn and have fun in a safe and secure environment and our coaches are CRB checked

The groups will run from Saturday 30th January at 9 am, and Sunday 31st January at 9am and 10-30am. To book a place please contact Matt Woods at JYGA Donnington Grove via email mw@golfjy.com or 01635 581000